Floor-box.



J. FOUNTAIN, JR. & B. JONES, JR. FLOOR BOX. APPLICATION FILED JULY 27, 1909. RENEWED JULY 15, 1911.

1,023,246. Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

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r ejafm rL ifieessejg $32M J. FOUNTAIN, JR. & B. JONES, JR.

FLOOR BOX. APPLICATION FILED JUL Y2? 1909. RENEWED JULY 15,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. v

Patented Apr. 16, 1912;

I floor box,

and the box covered over with the same ina- 'partlyin section,

JOHN FOUNTAIN, .13.,

.the city of Elizabeth,

UNITED sTA r srATENT OFFICE.

OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, AND BASSET'I JONES, 3'R.. OF NEW YORK, N. Y.; SAID JONES ASSIGNOR T0 SAID FOUNTAIN.

Freon-Box Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

Application filed July 27, 1909, Serial No. 509,779. Renewed July 15, 1911. Serial No. 638,729.

To all whom it may concern:

f Be it known that we, JOHN FOUNTAIN, J 13., a citizen of the United States/residing in county of Union, and State of New Jersey, and Bxssrxrr Jones, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Floor- Boxes; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

In the installation of electric plants in large modern buildings, it has become the custom to provide the various rooms with electric fixtures known as outlet boxes and floor boxes, for the purpose of tapping the electric circuit to take off current for electric lights; telephone, annunciators, and the like. It frequently happens that after the building is completed and the electric plant installed, changes'are required, whereby new fixtures are located and old ones abandoned.

It is the purpose of our invention to provide a fixture which may in the floor of a building for connection with the electric circuit, whereby the various cir cuits running beneath the floor may be tapped and proper receptacles inserted for the taking off or conducting away of the electric current.

Our improvement has more to do with the class of electric fixtures which are located in the floors of ofiice buildings and known now to the art as floor boxes, and our main object is to provide means whereby the exposed portion of the box may be secured in position tlush with the floor and present a neat and. tasty appearance, and at the same time should it be requiredto abandon said the cover plate may be removed terial of which the floor is constructed, it

desired.

In carrying out our invention, we make use of the structures scribed and illustrated in the drawings, in

which i Figure 1 is a plan 'view of an abandoned fioor box. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, of the floor box ready for use and difi'eringfro n Fig, 1 in having a so-called nozzle substituted -for the -fiat inj be permanently set hereinafter fully dc to be inserted in the box proper.

sertion plate hereinafter described. Fig. 3 is a plan View with the cover removed, show ing the interior construction of the upper section of the box. Fig. i is a side plan view partly in section, showing an abandoned box covered with the door material. Fig. .3 represents a top plan view partly in section, of a gang of three boxes; and Fig. (3 is a side elevation of the gang of boxes illustrated in Fig. 5.

Similar letters of reference reterto like parts throughout the specification and drawings.

Olll' improved box consists essentially of a cup-shaped main box body 1 of circular or polygonal torn: as desired. Upon its sides are formed in casting the bosses or pads Qand 3, through which extend the apertures l for receiving the electric conductors to be connected up with some form of receptacle The upper edge of the box body 1 is provided with a series ofdiainetrically located sockets or recesses 5, opening inwardly into the box body proper. lhese are for the purpose oi. receiving a U-shaped bracket similar to that shown at 6, and more specifically hereinafter described. Projecting inwardly from the upper edge of the box is a plurality of screw-threaded apertured lugs 7. Setting over the upper edge of the box body 1 is an open cover 8 having the downwardly projecting flange 9 extending down somewhat over the upper edge of the box 1. This open cover is clearly illustrated in Fig. 8, and is provided with'the rip-standing flange 10 extending around its outer edge, and a circular recess 11, said recess 11 being provided with further depressed and slotted recesses 12. These slotted recesses are for the purpose of receiving screws 13 by which the cover 8 is connected to the lugs 7 of the box body 1.

Located diametrically opposite each other and 4t, for a purpose hereinafter: to be described.

the flange 10, being the bracket 6.

in rigid relation The top cover 15 is designed to set over provided with the margmal downwardly extending flange 16 and the inner ledge 17 for cooperation with the tip-standing flange 10 of the open cover. This top cover is provided with a circular beve ed recess 18 of the same size and depth as the recess 11 in the open cover 8. This recess is also provided with recesses 19 simi lar in all respects to the recess 14 of the open cover 8 and 5 of the upper edge of the body 1, .and is designed to receive a U-shaped bracket similar to Located in the bottom of this recess is a gasket 20 upon which is superposed the flat cover 21, said cover being provided with the plurality of screws 22, which are designed to secure the cover 21 to the top cover 15 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1, lugs being provided in the open part of the top cover 15 for that purpose. It should be stated at this point that the top cover 15 has a circular opening 23 in its center to provide access to the interior of the The circular cover 21 is also provided with a circular central aperture 24, screw-threaded to receive either the nozzle 25 shown in Fig. 2,01 the flat screw-threaded cap 26. shown in Fig. 1. A gasket 27 is provided in this opening 21 and upon the circular inwardly projecting ledge 28, for that purpose. with recesses 29 to receive the outwardly splayed upper ends of the U-shaped bracket 6. heretofore referred to When the nozzle 25 is screwed down into position, its lower edge will bear upon the outwardly splayed ends of this bracket 6 and thus hold the same with the other parts. The npzzle 25 is provided with the bushing 30 of hard rubber or other insulating material, this bushing 30 being centrally apertured to provide egress for the electric conductors which are led out from the floor box to any particular device. as for example, to a desk lamp, or to the telephone.

Our object in providing the various recesses 5, 14 19 and 29 is that it frequently happens that receptacles of various sizes are required to be'used for various purposes, and corresponding means must be provided in the floor box for supporting the same, so that we may use any one of these recesses to receive a bracket similar to bracket 6, of requisite size to support such receptacle. W'e have not shown the receptacle in position, neither have we shown more than one of the brackets 6, but it will be clearly understood that the brackets to be carried in the sockets 5, l4 and 19 are exactly similar in shape and have the upper ends outwardly splayed as at 29, the only difference being in their sizes.

The floor boxes as'we have described them are designed for location on floor, 315

- This ledge 28 is further provided.

' floor.

shaped and located in shown in Fig. 2, wherein, 31 represents the rough floor or floor lining. In this case, the main body 1 is embedded in the cement with which themain body of-the floor is constructed, after which the floor 31 is laid with an opening 32 therein to' receive the cover 8, so -that said over-hanging or outwardly flanged portion 33 of the cover 8 shall rest upon the upper facs of the rough flooring 31. If for any reason, the body 1 has not been accurately located or alined in the cement or beneath the floor 31, the slotted recess 12 in the cover 8 will permit of such adjustment, as toallow the open cover 8 to be correctly alaced and adjusted, when the screws 13 may be screwed home, thereby securing the cover 8 in position and bearing upon the floor 31, the flanged portion 33 having sufiicient width so that the top flooring can rest upon it. It may not even be necessary to screw the open cover 8 to the box body at all, and-thus this open cover, together with the top cover, forms all the more an entirely independent member of the floor box, permitting lateral adjustment of the open cover within the limits determined by its flange 9, but not limiting the vertical distance of the cover from the box to an exact measurement. Then the top cover 15 may be put in position, and the top flooring 34 may be laid, so that it shall be flush with the upper face of the top cover 15 as fully illustrated in Fi 2. This top flooring may be of any 0 the various types of flooring used in modern construction, as forex ample, mosaic, terrazo, marble, slate or cement, or even wood flooring.

.If at any time, it is desired to abandon the floor box for any reason, it is only necessary to remove. the nozzle 25 and substitute for it the flat late 26, when of course, the top of the floor iiox will be flush through out the entire surface with the surface of the If, however, it is desired to abandon the floor box for the present, and to remove all trace of the same from outward appearance, it is then only necessary to remove the top cover 15 by taking out the screws 36, lifting the cover out and setting a block of wood in its place if the floor is of wood construction, or if it is mosaic, terrazo or marble, the flat circular cover plate 21 may be removed from the top cover 15 and placed in the recess 11 of the open cover 8, as clearly illustrated in Fi 4, thus-closing up the interior of the oor box completely. Then the flooring such as mosaic, terrazo, marble, cement or the like may be laid over the circular cover 21 in such a way that all trace'of the floor box is removed. If desired, a block of wood, such as illustrated in Fig. 4' at 37 may be properly position, as shown, being held therein by means of screws 38 screwed into the same holes which are procover may be shifted horizontally in all. di

the top cover I greatly 'f jcilitate, and

' of the v It frequently happens that circuits for and at the same time,

-44 has the upstanding flange 45,

give access to the interior of the box beneath.

We claim:

1. In a floor box, box body, an open cover adjustably secured .to the uppcredge of said box body provided vided forftlie screws, 36. It willthus be seen that we have provided afloor box capable of performing all of the desiredobjects, having in view receptacles of various sizes to be supported by various sized brack ets, .such as bracket 6, and also provide means whereby the door boxmay be temporarily abandoned, as in thesubstitution of the flatplate 2G for the,hp-standing nozzle 25, or where the exi 'encfes of the situation require, the top coy-er plate ;1.'5' may be completely ,remoyed andQthetloor laid over the box, so'as to completely remove all trace of the" same from outward appearance. It is also obvious that another important .teature of our cover box is the complete independency of the covers from the box body proper, so that the covers will be always flush with the floor without requiring particular vertical adjustment, and that. the

cover loosely embracing the upper edge of said body, a top cover secured to said open cover and means in said top cover for supportingan electric fixture within said floor box." w

2. In a floor box, the combination of a box body, an open cover adjustablvsecuredto the upper edge of said box body provided with a circular flange upon the under side of said cover loosely embracing the upper ledge of said body, a top cover secured to said open cover and means in said open cover for securing an electric fixture within said floor box. p y

3. Ina floor box, the combination of a box body, an open cover adjn'stably secured to the upper edge of said box body provided with a circular flange upon the under side of said cover loosely embracing the upper edge of said body, a top cover secured to said open cover and means in the upper edge of said box body for supporting an electric fixture within said box body.

4-. In a floor box, the combination of a cup-shaped box body having inwardly extending recesses in its upper edge, an open cover adjustably secured to the upper edge of said box body, said open cover having a downwardly extending Range to inclose the upper edge of said box body, and an out.- wardly extending flange to form a means for supporting said cover, a top cover secured to said opencover, said top cover having in its upper face a recessed aperturefor receiving either an outlet nozzle or a closing disk, whereby said outlet box may be utilized for leading out electric wires or closed and abandoned for electric purposes. y

5. In a floor box, the combination of a box body of cup-shape, said box body having lateral apertures through which electric circuit wires may be introduced into the interior of the box body, an adjustable open 'cover secured to the upper edge of said box body, said cover having means therein for affording a support to. an electric fixture to be connected up with said electric circuits, a top cover secured to said open cover, said top cover designed to lie flush with the upper surface. or a door, said top-cover having a recessedaperture centrally located thfirein, and a conduit nozzle secured in said rec sed aperture, whereby circuit Wires may be 3 out from said floor box.

\ -6. Ina floor box, the combination of a box bdy,an open cover adjustably secured to the upperedge of said box body, said rections within reasonable limits, so as to cheapen the setting cover into the floorf by the carpenter.

more thanonepurpose are necessary and mustbe 'providedfor in a door box. In orderto reduce the ,cost'ofmanufacture of floor boxes for such piirposes'to a minimum, provide against a multiplicity'ofparts, we sometimes construct the fioor box in gangs as illustrated inliig, (3,whrein, we have shown a gang of three floor boxes having independent box bodies 1 otexactly the same shape and conf guration; aiid h axing "the same characteris'ticsas the box body 1 heretofore described. These we mount in gangs upon atemplet 40,- said teinplet being-provided with a plurality of lugs 41 and '42,'the lugs 41being located diametricallyopposite each other and near the edge of the templetandspaced apart just suiiicieiit to receive the'tlat faces or pads The lugs 42 are "located in the center line of the templ'et, so as to bear against the lowerend's' of the pads jorflat faces 2, as clearly shown in Figs. and 6.

'lhe'box lb" dy 1 s held 'in position on the templet by ineans of screws 43, passing through the center of the bottom of the box andrscrewed into the teln-plet 40. In'this case, the open cover 44 is made'to conform to the upper edges 'of'the body 1, and have I the series of openings'therein each sii'nilar to the single opening in the open cover} 23,- heretoforeQdescribed. "This. cover similar in all respects to the tip-standing flange '10, heretofore referred to, The top cover 46 is also, similar in all respects to the top cover 15,. with the exception that it is oblong, whereas, the top cover is shown as square, 46 being-also provided with the plurality of cover plates 26, in order to with a flange upon .the under side of saidthe combination of a Copies of this patent may be obtained for cover being provided with an upstanding thereof, said cover provided with a circumarginal ange on its upper si e, and a lar flange upon the under side of said cover downwardly extending flange on its lower side to embrace the upper edge of said box body, said cover having'a circular'opening, a recessed ledge surrounding said opening to receive a disk closure, and a top cover fitted to said upstanding flange and rigidly secured to said open cover.

.7.-In a floor box, the combination of a cup-shaped box body, a cover for said .body,

cup-shaped box body, a cover for said body,

said cover having a central opening therein, a circular flange upon the underside of said cover loosely embracing the upper edge of said body, said .covering extending laterally in all directions from said flange to form av supporting ledge therefor, a disk cover plate adapted to be, secured in said opening to form a-closure therefor, an upstanding marginal flange upon the upper side of said cover adapted to reYeive and supporta section of the flooring in which said box is located; l

9. A floor box, comprising a box body, a cover for said body provided with aflange upon the under side .of said cover loosely. embracing the upper edge of said body, said cover having means for supporting it independent of. said box body.

10. A floor box, comprising a box body, an independently supported cover for said body provided with a flange upon the under side of said cover loosely embracing the upper edge of said body and means for ad justably securing said cover and body together.

11. A floor bo tiiiture, comprising a box' body, an open cover adapted to be adjust-- ably secured to and supported independent of said box body, said cover provided with a circular flange upon the under side of said 12. A floor boxhavinga box body and a cover therefor supported independently loosely embracing the upper edge of said body.

13. A'floor box having a box'body and a cover therefor supported and held in place independently thereof, said cover provided with a circular flange upon theunder side of said cover looselyembracing the upper edge of said body.

14. A floor box having a box body and a cover therefor supported independently thereof and-adapted to be attached to said box body, said cover provided with a ci'ropen cover, said open cover supported and held in place independently of said box.

17. A floor box having a box body, an open cover provided with a downwardly extending flange loosely embracing the upper edge of said body,.a'top cover fonsaid open cover, said 9 11 cover supported independently of sai attached thereto.

18. A-fioor box fixture, comprising a plurality of box bodies, with means. for securing said bodies rigidly together, said bodies provided with a gang 'cover adapted to inclose said bodies and means independentofsaid bodies for supporting said cover. a

1 9. A floor box fixture, comprising a plurality of box bodies,a templet to which said bodies are rigidl secured, a cover adapted to be adjusts. ly secured to and supported independently of-said plurality of bodies.

This specification signed and'witnessed this 21 day of July, 1909.' A

JOHN FOUNTAIN, JR. V BA'SSETT JONES, JR, 'Witnesses:

H; F. Rronannson, A. V. FARR.

five cents eacln by 'faddremnz the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, .D. 0.

box, but adapted to be- 

